Where do you live? I live in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. I live in house at Km. 12 ¾ the old road to Leon. You go down to the Km. 13 market and turn right where the labritorios sign is, I’m in the last house on the right. Yes, this a change from where I was living before. I now have my own bedroom, it is the maid’s quarters but I have fixed it up quite nicely.
Who do you live with? Although we have only all been home one night since I moved in, I technically live with three North American girls, Carey, Lori, and Mary. We also have two dogs, Chaco and Maya.
When was the last time you took a shower? Well, we haven’t had water since Saturday…you do the math. I think it is about time to go swimming.
What do you mean by having no water? Yesterday there was at least some coming out slowly and pressureless from our tank but today it is down to a drizzle. Purell and baby wipes are quickly becoming my best friends.
Why no water? I don’t know for sure but I think the huge hole in the middle of the road by us may have something to do with it.
Besides not bathing, what do you do down there? Since February my main task has been starting a community library about one mile from where I live. Currently we are open three afternoons a week, I am there for those times and then extra time still getting organized. I started teaching English again on Tuesday mornings. I teach two first grade classes, one huge second grade class, and one third grade class. So schedule-wise I don’t have a ton of work but unscheduled things are always coming up.
Who are you working for? I am technically down here independently. The financial responsibility for the library is shared between Manna Project International and Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua. For my job at the school, I consider Matthew Jun my boss, he laughs when I call him that.
How’s the library? I think it’s going well, we have more books than shelves and there are lots of kids that come every day, those things are both very encouraging. We leant our first batch of books and are waiting for them to be returned. I still have a lot of work to do.
So, you like it there? It’s life. And I guess for the most part I like life. I don’t think I am enjoying it more than I would enjoy living in the states, but I don’t really know how to compare the two. I do know that for now I am where I am supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing. At least for the big things, there are still plenty of disciplines that I have yet to master.
When are you coming back? Short term, August 6th for a wedding in LA, then possibly longer term in December. Hopefully by November I will know whether or not my December trip is for Christmas or for my foreseen future.
After Nicaragua, then what? Ahhhhhh. I don’t know. Get some type of job doing something. I’m not really worried about it, God has clearly guided and provided this far I don’t think He’s just going to quit on me now.
And your Spanish, it’s fluent now? This answer is conditional. If you speak Spanish, no, it is not fluent. If you don’t speak Spanish, yes, it is.
Is it safe there? Really, what is “safe”? I don’t feel that my safety has ever been jeopardized. But a lot more precautions are taken here then in the states. We lock our doors.
What is your favorite Nicaraguan food? Fried cheese with pretty much anything, especially fried plantains. Yes, they eat healthy here. But for the most part I just eat normal food like peanut butter and jelly
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